Custom Jersey Gift Ideas: Birthdays, Father's Day, Christmas and More

Finding a gift someone will actually use is hard. A custom jersey with their name and number on the back is personal, it's something they'll wear, and it works for almost anyone who loves a sport, a team or a good inside joke. Here are some ideas to get you started, plus a few tips so it arrives on time.

Who it makes a great gift for

• Birthdays: put their age as the number. A "40" on the back of a jersey is a lot more fun than a card.
• Father's Day and Mother's Day: "DAD", "BIG PAPA" or "MOM" on the back, with the year the kids were born or the number of kids as the number.
• Christmas and the holidays: matching family jerseys for game day or the holiday photo.
• Retirements and going-away parties: their name and years of service, signed by the team.
• Coaches and team parents: a thank-you jersey from the whole team at the end of the season.
• Sports fans: their own name on a jersey in their favorite team's colors.

What to put on it

Every jersey can have a name and number on the back, a name and number on the front, and a number on the sleeve (basketball jerseys are sleeveless, so they skip the sleeve). All of it is optional, and all of it is included in the price. Names can be up to 20 characters and numbers up to 3 digits.

Some ideas that always land:

• Their last name and their lucky number
• A nickname only friends and family use
• Their age or birth year as the number
• An anniversary year, or the year they graduated or retired
• A team or family name on the front, like "SMITH FAMILY"

Want more ideas? Our guide to choosing names and numbers has plenty.

Pick the right style

Think about what they watch or play. Football and hockey jerseys are made for game day, baseball jerseys work for summer and casual wear, and basketball jerseys are great for warm weather and pickup games. Shopping for a kid? Look at the youth basketball and youth sports jerseys in sizes 8 to 20.

On any style page you can filter by color, so it's easy to find their team's colors.

Getting the size right when it's a surprise

Since the jersey is made to order with their name on it, it can't be returned or exchanged, so size matters. A few sneaky ways to get it right:

• Lay one of their favorite shirts or jerseys flat and measure across the chest, armpit to armpit, then double it.
• Compare that measurement with the size chart on the jersey page.
• If they're between sizes, go up one. Jerseys are meant to fit a little loose.

Our jersey sizing guide walks through it step by step.

When to order

Every jersey is made to order and typically arrives within 12 to 14 business days, with free shipping anywhere in the US. Give yourself about three weeks before the big day, and a little extra around the holidays.

Ready to make one?

Pick a style, choose a size, add their name and number, and you're done. The price you see includes the names and numbers, tax and shipping. Start with our favorite jerseys.